The Knights of Columbus Archbishop Rummel Council 5747 made a donation to the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Reserve Division on Jan. 27 during its annual banquet held to honor the deputy, firefighter and paramedic of the year. From left, are: Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Dennis Bourgeois; St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann; and Sgt. Eric Eilers.

Arabi Elementary was celebrating Literacy Week this week and Sgt. Eric Eilers of the Community Relations Division was invited to read to a class. It looks like everyone had a good time including Sgt Eilers.

Due to the partial government shutdown and closure of the Chalmette Battlefield, St. Bernard Parish Government, The St. Bernard Parish Office of Tourism, Tourist Commission, the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office and living history re-enactors have stepped up to ensure that events will still take place.

This year’s annual commemoration will take place today (Jan. 11) until 3 p.m. and Saturday (Jan. 12) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Sidney Torres Park, located behind the government complex at 8201 W. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette.

There may be some noise associated with cannon and musket firing so residents in the surrounding area please be advised.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office arrest St. Bernard man for rash of burglaries

A St. Bernard man was arrested Jan. 1 in connection with a dozen burglaries in eastern St. Bernard Parish, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Kenneth Rabalais, 34, of the 6300 block of Delacroix Highway in St. Bernard community, was booked with eight counts of simple burglary of a residence, two counts of attempted simple burglary of a residence, and two counts of simple burglary of a vehicle.

The burglaries occurred over several days during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays leading up to Jan. 1 in the 2200 block of Bayou Road and the 2200 block of E. Louisiana Highway 46.

On Jan. 1, at approximately 10:30 a.m., Sheriff Pohlmann said, deputies responded to call about a rash of residential burglaries which occurred in Fanz Trailer Park in St. Bernard community.

When deputies arrived on the scene, they met with the trailer park owner who stated several residents reported their mobile homes had been broken into and several items were missing from inside.

Sheriff Pohlmann said detectives with the Criminal Investigations Bureau were able to identify Rabalais through a vehicle description obtained after one of the burglaries that occurred on Jan. 1.

Rabalais was apprehended later that same evening by members of the Field Operations Bureau after they performed a traffic stop on his vehicle.

Following the execution of a search warrant on Rabalais’ vehicle, detectives also located several additional stolen items, including a large flat screen television set.

Once in custody, Rabalais admitted his involvement in the residential and vehicle burglaries.

A criminal history check was conducted on Rabalais which revealed he has a prior conviction for simple burglary.

Rabalais was transported to St. Bernard Parish Prison where he is being held on a $50,000 bond.

Members of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office recently made Christmas brighter for several St. Bernard Parish families by presenting them with some holiday essentials like Christmas trees, toys, and some much-needed household items. C.O.P.S (Caring Officers Provide Smiles) for Christmas was able to help four families this year. The families, which each ranged from 3 to 6 people, were given clothes, shoes and coats, as well as toys for the kids.